La Dolce Vita Wine Tours

Venice to Amarone

Venice, our meet-up spot, is ideal for a pre-tour stay
Giotto’s Arena Chapel frescos helped launch the Renaissance—and warrant a side trip to Padua
The Basilica of St. Anthony, patron saint of doctors, is another landmark. Padua established Europe’s first medical school.
The castle of Soave overlooks our lunch spot.
Soave introduces the ancient Roman technique of drying grapes before pressing. These will go into a Soave passito.
Pieropan was a leader in restoring quality to Soave wine. Here, the gracious Teresita Pieropan hosts our group.
With their acidic backbone, Pieropan’s Soave cru can be aged for several years
Teresita Pieropan examines grapes in the drying loft.
The Romans left behind a large coliseum in Verona, which now hosts opera singers rather than gladiators.
Verona is dubbed “the Painted City” for its elegant frescoed palazzi
Dante's final years were spent in Verona. His property is now part of the Masi winery.
The elegant Amarone from Santa Sofia, a winery housed in a Palladian villa
Hand-harvesting garganega grapes at Trabucchi
Grapes for Amarone are placed on bamboo racks to dry for 100 days before pressing.
Sirmione on Lake Garda
Valpolicella's vines are often trained on pergolas to protect grapes from the rain sweeping off the Dolomites.
A tasting at Tenuta Sant' Antonio in the up-and-coming eastern zone of Amarone.
Amarone from Tommasi, a fourth-generation winery